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"When you fall in love with something there is nothing you can do about it and she has changed my life forever since.

"She is a beautiful animal who is incredibly loyal."

When she was first taken in, Miss Snooks slept with the Edgingtons' cats. Mr Edginton and his wife Nola, 55, would let her go for walks on her own but she would always return home within a few hours.

Now fully grown, she spends most of her day relaxing on the sofa before a meal of chicken cooked in honey and dried cat food washed down with half a cup of coffee.

Mr Edginton, who also has a dog and three cats, added: "It got to the stage where it would have been cruel to put her back into the wild because she would have not survived for long.

"Foxes, particularly vixens, are very nervous animals and are conscious of other wildlife but she loves our other pets and they get on fine.

"Whenever I take her for walks we try to avoid other dogs as there could be confrontation – that is why I go out so late.

"I would not recommend it to anyone because owning a fox literally takes over your life.

"You cannot exactly ask a neighbour to look after her if you want to go on holiday so if you are not prepared to look after them 24/7 do not bother." Foxes are predominantly wild animals who generally live between two and three years but can survive for up to 10 years and are normally extremely wary of humans.

Scientists in Russia have spent the last 50 years trying to tame the Silver Fox, with their research revealing that some become dog-like in their behaviour, putting their ears down and wagging their tails when happy.

However, the RSPCA still advises against keeping foxes as domestic animals.

A spokesman said: "Even the most experienced fox experts have failed to keep the animals successfully in captivity – adult foxes tend to become very destructive and difficult to keep.

"Because they have been in captivity the foxes are unable to fend for themselves and cannot be released back into the wild."